Moving back for a brighter future

Andrew Bentham has gone back home, after a grant and loan provided through the council enabled him and his family to move from a troubled West Hull neighbourhood. Mr Bentham, formerly of Nayburn Street, has returned to the house in which he was born on Albert Avenue. "My parents bought the house in 1960 and I was born in the front room in 1963," he said. "It then belonged to my sister and I'm now buying it from her." The Benthams must have felt that they were due a change in fortunes after the unhappy experience of recent years. The family had wanted to move out of Nayburn Street so that their growing son and daughter could have separate bedrooms but were caught in the trap of negative equity that prevented so many residents from leaving the area. "We moved in 12 years ago but in the last five years, the neighbourhood has really gone down," he said. "We've had bikes stolen, a car set fire to, stuff thrown at the windows. Even when we were moving out, a radio was stolen from our car. No mortgage lender would've touched the place." Mr Bentham was able to relieve the impasse by applying for a relocation grant and negative equity loan from the council. He is also making a smaller personal contribution to cover the difference in value between the two properties. The Benthams' experience is shared by many in the Woodcock Street and Springburn Street area.

The council has now acquired 50 properties and helped 12 people move out in the first stage of the area's regeneration. It has also begun to demolish empty homes that had become a target for vandals. "Some have gone into rented accommodation but increasingly, deed swap is being used as an option," said Sue Roberts, team leader for the West Hull Renewals Project. Deed swap allows people wishing to remain in owner occupation to exchange their old property for a council house in another area, subject to availability. "When they've identified an area of council housing that they would be happy with, their house is valued, the council property is valued," said Sue. "Because many of those selling up are in negative equity, there will be a difference, which could be made up by relocation grant, negative equity loans and part funded by the resident themselves through their mortgage." Although he is grateful for the assistance, Mr Bentham believes the situation in West Hull should never have been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent in the first place. He also has complaints about the effectiveness of CCTV cameras in the area and the police's response to reported incidents. However, he is pleased to be returning to his new home. "We can now do all the things that we wanted to do, things that we couldn't do before - like sitting out in the garden."

Cabinet member, Coun. Kath Lavery said, "Work in this area has been overdue, but residents can see the outcome of all the hard work. The regeneration of West Hull is at last under way."